Ford Will Bring European Focus to U.S. in 2010

Today Ford announced one other nugget besides the fact that it would delay the 2009 F-150 pickup. The well-received European Focus will finally come to the U.S., with the next generation being produced and sold in North America. This is part of Ford’s new goal of shrinking its lineup to more fuel-efficient vehicles. The company already announced it will sell the subcompact Fiesta in 2010.

Many American car enthusiasts have pleaded for the European Focus for years. It seems to have taken a financial crisis to bring it stateside. Make no mistake, this is a money-saving move for Ford. Instead of investing in two different Focus designs for two different markets, it will save money on R&D by going with just one. By building the Focus domestically, the company also protects against a weak dollar versus importing cars built abroad.

This is a good move for Ford. With the recently redesigned U.S. Focus selling extremely well because of high gas prices, the Focus name will be high in the minds of consumers by the time the next generation arrives in two years. We’d also guess that with the lower-cost option of the Fiesta on lots at the same time, the company can afford to bring a slightly more expensive, better-quality Focus to market. Let us know what you think of this move in the comments below.

The UK Focus comes in the same versions that earlier US ones did: 3 door hatch, 5 door hatch, sedan, and wagon.

I might be wrong, but I think the US might now be ready for a small, fuel efficient wagon. Such cars provide the same amount of cargo capacity as small suvs like Escape, Rav4, etc but have better mileage and cost less.

So.... along with the Ford Transit and Fiesta we will be getting Europe's Focus. I've also heard rumors that we're getting the coupe, convertible and C-Max variants. Also, that the new Ford Kuga is the new Escape.

Here's hoping they call the C-Max, Escort in America!

Also I wonder how the truck design language will translate in this new merged Euro-kinetic design/Americana Gillette razor thing?

Very good move for the better. European Focus is a very nice little car that is so popular in Europe. Also the car rocks. If anybody follows WRC competition in Europe you could see that in Monaco race first place was Citroen C4 and Focus was second, faster than Subary Impreza WRX. A few of my friends bought escorts and focuses and are very happy with quality. Why could not Ford keep the same level of quality here in USA?

Also Ford diesel engine in Europe holds very well against VW, BMW, Peugeot and Audi diesles. They should bring diesel Ford to USA too.

I believe this will be the all new version. The current Euro Focus is getting old now and has just had a mid-life facelift. It'd due for replacement in around 2010 and is being developed as a world car in a similar way to the new Fiesta.

I don't think that this crisis was solely responsible for bringing the Euro Focus to the US. The plan has been for some time to once again harmonize the two models. Perhaps the crisis has accelerated things a bit, but it certainly wasn't the only driver.

Firstly, we have had the Mazda3 for years here in America, since 2004 in fact, and its based on the same platform as the European Focus. What actually gets me is that they will finally bring it here (hopefully retaining some of the juicier European powerplants, from the gas sipping ones all the way up to the T5), but that by the time it does get here, it will be as old of platform as the original Focus had when we started complaining about it.

Not that its a bad platform at all, its been tried for years and no one has quite yet beat the C1 platform for small cars. Still, I hope Ford Europe has been cooking up a new platform.

....

Or I could be reading this all wrong and a whole new platform comes out for both the European and American Focus, and we should be praying its at least as good as the current one. Hell if they could lose some weight (there by gaining both performance and fuel efficiency), well that'd be just perfect.

This is for the next generation of the Euro Focus if I'm reading it reight. That means not the current platform of the Mazda3 which, while I own it and love it, is too expensive and too small to compete w/ Corolla, Civic, Cobalt, Elantra et. al. It would muscle in on the Fusion too.

Perhaps the new one will be more in harmony w/ the US market. I'm guessing they still won't offer a mix of body types as they did w/ the original focus. To me, if it's not a 5-door (preferably wagon), it's not worth the bother, particularly w/ the tiny trunk lids of today's sedans.

Still, good news that Ford is going w/ their strengths, but they need a real family sedan to replace the 500/Taurus disaster and the departed Crown Vic.

I have to say, I am really impressed with Ford's Turnaround thus far. They have been very realistic about the challenges facing them, and have been very diligent in turning their operations around. Mulally certainly has not been afraid to bruise ego's in doing what's right for the company. That includes examining past decisions by Ford MGMT, and reversing them.

GM is in a slightly different situation. I think the vast majority of GM white collar workers are supportive and willing to make the hard decisions necessary to make GM competitive again. Both blue & white collar workers are also have been willing to make HUGE sacrifices to ensure GM's future. That's why I am so shocked that GM's management continues to make primarily short run based decisions. It's true that they have done great things such as the new union contracts, creating competitive products, and trying to reduce reliance on larger vehicles. The upper management, however, seems oblivious to the urgency that these changes need to be made, and seem more than willing to work at a relaxed pace until these are forced upon them.

I have to say, I am really impressed with Ford's Turnaround thus far. They have been very realistic about the challenges facing them, and have been very diligent in turning their operations around. Mulally certainly has not been afraid to bruise ego's in doing what's right for the company. That includes examining past decisions by Ford MGMT, and reversing them.

GM is in a slightly different situation. I think the vast majority of GM white collar workers are supportive and willing to make the hard decisions necessary to make GM competitive again. Both blue & white collar workers are also have been willing to make HUGE sacrifices to ensure GM's future. That's why I am so shocked that GM's management continues to make primarily short run based decisions. It's true that they have done great things such as the new union contracts, creating competitive products, and trying to reduce reliance on larger vehicles. The upper management, however, seems oblivious to the urgency that these changes need to be made, and seem more than willing to work at a relaxed pace until these are forced upon them.

God I hope FORD does the right thing here. I love my '02 Mustang GT but I have begun to realize I have to get better fuel mileage and to do that it seems I have to get a lighter car. For me this will be in about 2 years as I have to pay of the F250 first as I can't afford to make two vehicle payments but what to get? However it still has to be as FUN to drive as the GT is. As I can't afford a BMW 135 what will it be, a MazdaSpeed 3, a Mini Cooper S, A Subaru WRX? None of these gets that much better mileage than my current Mustang which is 20 AMPG. That's what I get commuting back and forth to work. The European Focus ST seems like a perfect fit. I understand that FORD is contemplating A FORD Capri based on the European Focus and a 2+2 is IDEAL for me as most times I am traveling alone but do need the potential for 3 passengers. Still I hear that FORD is worried that it might impinge on Mustang sales but they have to realize that the current needs of the FORD enthusiast have changed and that a car that is under 3000 lbs and gets at least 25AMPG is where we must go.

God I hope FORD does the right thing here. I love my '02 Mustang GT but I have begun to realize I have to get better fuel mileage and to do that it seems I have to get a lighter car. For me this will be in about 2 years as I have to pay of the F250 first as I can't afford to make two vehicle payments but what to get? However it still has to be as FUN to drive as the GT is. As I can't afford a BMW 135 what will it be, a MazdaSpeed 3, a Mini Cooper S, A Subaru WRX? None of these gets that much better mileage than my current Mustang which is 20 AMPG. That's what I get commuting back and forth to work. The European Focus ST seems like a perfect fit. I understand that FORD is contemplating A FORD Capri based on the European Focus and a 2+2 is IDEAL for me as most times I am traveling alone but do need the potential for 3 passengers. Still I hear that FORD is worried that it might impinge on Mustang sales but they have to realize that the current needs of the FORD enthusiast have changed and that a car that is under 3000 lbs and gets at least 25AMPG is where we must go.

I want a Focus ST and I want it now!!! I currently have a 2005 Focus SES 5 speed. It's fun, but lacks power and sportiness. I want the growl & gut of that Volvo 5 cylinder turbo. The USA needs and deserves something small and exciting like this from Ford.

all you us buyers don't know what a good car is if you did Citroen Renault fiat and Peugeot
would still be here and all these SUVs and 4x4
carp would mostly not be around . The us is a nation of winners who don't do anything about there problems they don't look over the fence . If you brought hatchbacks instead of large cars in the first place they all would be still be there , why don't you buy small hatchbacks in Mexico then all the car company's would give you small cars then all the small European car companies will come back , Gm and ford would make small cars .

My first car was a 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Then I had two Acuras (can't remember the model). Then I had a Dodge Shadow, V6. Fun, quick little car that held up well. In the last 12 years or so I've owned two Nissan Maximas. I was in the market for a new car (my current Maxima is 9 years old). But there isn't a single car produced by US makers that I would buy, until I saw that Ford is bringing over some of its Euro models. Even though they won't be available for close to two years, I am going to hold out for a new car until they get here. I would buy a Focus, a Mondeo, even a Fiesta, without hesitation. Ford, if you get this right you have won back an American consumer. And I am willing to wait two years to find out. If not, I wish you the best of luck. However, because I like the Euro cars so much and I think they would do very well in the US, I have been buying Ford stock lately. So not only am I a potential future buyer, I am a stockholder. Ford, I hope you get it right. I am putting my hard earned money on the line, and I am willing to give you my hard earned money when you get the Euro cars over here. Just don't f--- them up by changing anything about the styling or handling or quality. The success you have had in Europe and the rest of the world is achievable in the US. Make America proud Ford. Make America proud.

I'm just glad to be a 29 year old with over 10 and a half years. Not to mention working at the Wayne Assembly Plant in Wayne,MI. The Esort was a great car and now another great car the Ford Foucs. Ford has the right mindset when it comes to cost efficient and fuel efficient cars. I'm glad to be at Ford being a tough time and all. They seem to be the only one out of the big three that is playing with a full deck.

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